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#21
At this point I'm referring to 7. If I remember correctly, I attempted to buy an OS disk at the time of my last Lenovo purchase and couldn't. Although it may not be necessary what is the least expensive route for obtaining a valid 7 OS install disk or download w/key?
You can reinstall with the key on the COA sticker. It's unique to that PC and will work with a regular Windows 7 DVD. You'll have to phone activate the first time you use it but it legal. That's what it's there for. The deal with the factory key is it only works via OEM SLP activation and that only works with custom OEM install media from that OEM. Restoring the factory install with a Recovery disk set will also restore the factory OEM activation. You just can't use the factory OEM key with a regular Windows 7 DVD. Windows 7 will install but fail activation with that key. factory Windows 7 OEM installs do not activate online, they activate against the SLIC table in the BIOS. The factory OEM key is blocked from activating online by design so you can't read it out with a key checker and then try to use it on another PC.
You can do an inplace repair of Windows 7 without loosing any data. I have done this and it works. You may have to call MS to get it re-activated.
Win 7 nondestructive no reformat re install